As Burke stood on the stage at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis this morning, to receive the Bob Cousy Award as the nation’s best point guard, he barely touched it.

Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame president and CEO John Doleva explained why.

“Trey, because he’s playing tonight, cannot handle this award,” Doleva said. “One year, we gave it to (North Carolina’s) Ray Felton, and he pulled his back out that night.”

Though Michigan will face Louisville for the national title at 9:23 tonight at the Georgia Dome, Burke squeezed in the ceremony before Michigan’s shootaround. He had been announced as the winner Thursday. Louisville guard Peyton Siva also was there, to receive the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award as the best player under 6 feet tall.

Burke took a few photos, smiled for the cameras as he has done so many times at award ceremonies this week, then told the crowd about the importance of his teammates and coaches in reaching his latest achievement.

“(Cousy) was definitely before my time, but I got a chance to watch him and see highlights on him -- obviously, one of the greatest point guards ever,” Burke said. “I remember him from his ballhandling. (On film), he really didn’t use his left, if at all.

"It was phenomenal to be here to receive this award in honor of a great player.”

While Burke led Michigan in scoring all year, averaging 19.2 points per game, a well-rounded game was important to him.

“That’s my job out there, to get guys going early, and when the team needs me to score, I try to be aggressive with my shot,” he said. “I’m still trying to figure it out, but I think I’m doing a really good job at it.”

Burke was accompanied by assistant coach LaVall Jordan, whom he again credited with helping take his game to an elite level over the past two years at U-M.

Jordan has a bit more perspective than Burke on Cousy.

“Trey respects the game and all the great ones who came before him, so to have him associated with a player of that caliber, it’s unbelievable, and we’re extremely proud of him,” Jordan said. “For one of our own to be on there – we’ve had some great point guards at the University of Michigan, but that position, knowing it’s the quarterback on the floor, the leader, the guy you look to first, and that’s what we do with Trey.”

Cousy did not attend, but spoke on a video about the qualities required of a point guard.